How to Hire a Web Designer?
As I have openly admitted, I do not know much about web site design. In fact, that is why I am using a free theme for this blog. While I am happy with the way that ChrisBlogging looks, I would not mind paying for a custom design in the near future.
Over the past couple of years I have hired several web designers. But with that being said, I have not been overwhelmed with any of them. Maybe I have been unlucky, or maybe I am not asking the right questions.
So how do you hire a web designer? If any readers work in this capacity I would love to hear what you need to know before you take on work with a client.
Here are the three questions that I usually ask before hiring a web designer. There is a good chance that there are other inquiries that I should probably add to this list.
1. Just like most, I always ask how much money I will be charged. This is never too big of a problem because I do not have any issue paying a bit more if high quality is sure to follow.
2. Can I see some samples? Before I hire a web designer I always like to study some past work. As a freelance writer I am used to sending out samples, and figure that web designers probably feel the same way.
3. What is the process for making changes after the first draft? Even though it would be nice to get exactly what I want the first time around, this very rarely happens.
These three questions have done alright for me in the past. But with that being said, I really want to get this hire right. A new layout for this blog could really help in the near future.
August 20th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
While he isn’t a web designer per se, a good person to ask would be David Airey - he has a great blog relating to graphic design, and the whole process involved in design comissions frequented by many excellent designers-asking the question there should get you a good response.
http://www.davidairey.com/
August 20th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
Check the designer’s own website, and see what it’s like. There’s something worrisome about web designers whose own website says “under construction” or has a lot of broken links and stuff. (Though I probably shouldn’t talk, as I haven’t updated mine in years. Heck, haven’t looked at it in years…)
Keep in mind too that, when checking samples of websites they have done, there may be limitations due to what the client has provided them. I have been in the position before where I have been asked for samples and had to show a bunch of half-done sites because the client hadn’t provided the information necessary to complete them.
Many times, when a web designer quotes a price, they will also mention that the price includes 1 revision or 2 revisions. After that, you’ll pay additional.
Another option for you to consider is to find a theme that you like and then just have custom graphics created for you.